Community PreSchool Offers Foundation For Successful Learning

Published: February 18, 2014 @ 6:30 AM EDT

The Community PreSchool is currently accepting applications for enrollment in their 2014-15 school year which starts in September. For almost 50 years, since 1965, the Community PreSchool has been providing a welcoming environment as – what is for many – a child’s first experience away from home and family.

Located in the Education Building of the Community United Methodist Church (CUMC) on the Grant Avenue side of the intersection of Chestnut Street and Grant Avenue, the Community PreSchool offers activity-based learning where three-year-olds and four-year-olds can develop academic and social skills. The preschool presents a Christian atmosphere but children of all faiths and from all surrounding communities are welcome and encouraged to attend.

School Director Pamela Henn said of the staff, “Three out of our four teaching staff have been here more than 15 years. That speaks to the dedication and consistency our school offers. We take pride in our family atmosphere as well as the low ratios in our classrooms.”

The 2-day, 3-day, and 5-day morning sessions from 8:45 a.m. till 11:45 a.m. allow for those parents who want to introduce their children into a school environment to create a bridge between home and standardized education. Mornings are filled with games & activities, circle time, field trips to different areas in town, exercise programs, and outside fun time (weather permitting) along with hands-on instruction based on learn-through-play given by the state certified teaching staff. The Community PreSchool works with the Roselle Park School District (RPSD) to coordinate a similar school calendar for those families who have children in Roselle Park schools as well as preschoolers.

On the day the school was visited, children were finishing up a lesson and played post office where children used their penmanship to write a card, then practiced social skills when visiting the in-class post office to mail their letter. The children then cleaned up and did stretches before moving on to their next lesson.

Tuition ranges from $186/month to $350/month for the ten month program. Enrollment is on a first-come first-serve basis. Parents and guardians interested in finding out more information should contact Pamela Henn for a personal tour at (908) 245-8651 or by visiting the school’s website (link).

“Ours is the first step in the formal education of our children and, for me, success is a student that loves kindergarten because it means they’ve been prepared for their academic years,” said Mrs. Henn.